The Orange Pill Podcast

Could improving your gut health be as simple as eating two green kiwifruits a day? In Episode 152 of The Orange Pill Podcast, we explore fascinating clinical research investigating the effects of green kiwifruit on digestive health, constipation, and overall gastrointestinal comfort. A randomized, multicenter clinical trial compared two green kiwifruits daily with psyllium fiber supplementation in people experiencing functional constipation and constipation-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-C). The findings? Kiwifruit significantly improved bowel movement frequency and several measures of digestive comfort, outperforming psyllium on certain outcomes. We take a closer look at what makes green kiwifruit unique, the science behind its digestive benefits, and how clinical research is helping establish the role of whole foods in supporting gastrointestinal health. Could this everyday fruit offer a simple, evidence-based approach to better digestion? Tune in to find out!

What if a simple daily vitamin could help protect your cells from one of the hallmarks of aging? In Episode 151 of The Orange Pill Podcast, we explore findings from a four-year study within the VITAL trial investigating the effects of daily Vitamin D3 and marine omega-3 supplementation on telomere length, an important biomarker associated with cellular aging. The findings were intriguing: participants taking 2,000 IU of Vitamin D3 daily experienced significantly less telomere shortening compared with placebo, preserving approximately 140 base pairs over four years. Meanwhile, omega-3 supplementation showed no significant effect on telomere attrition. We break down what telomeres tell us about biological aging, why Vitamin D may play a role in protecting cellular health, and what these findings mean for the broader conversation around longevity. Can an accessible daily nutrient make a meaningful difference to cellular aging? Tune in as we explore the science behind the findings.

What if supporting healthy aging isn't just about producing more NAD+, but also understanding why our cells lose it in the first place? In Episode 150 of The Orange Pill Podcast, we explore the science behind NAD+, a molecule essential for cellular energy and DNA repair, and CD38, an enzyme increasingly studied for its role in age-related NAD+ decline. We take a closer look at DailyColors®, a Mediterranean-inspired blend of plant phytonutrients, and the research investigating its potential to influence CD38 activity, cellular health, and pathways associated with healthy aging. With KGK Science having conducted research for DailyColors®, this episode offers a closer look at how scientific investigation can help uncover the biological mechanisms behind innovative nutritional ingredients. Can targeting NAD+ breakdown offer a different approach to supporting healthy aging? Tune in as we explore the science.

The FDA has finalized its guidance on identity and safety information for New Dietary Ingredient Notifications (NDINs). But what does this mean for the dietary supplement industry? In Episode 149 of The Orange Pill Podcast, we break down the finalized guidance, exploring the FDA's recommendations for establishing ingredient identity, presenting safety evidence, and supporting safety conclusions. With KGK Science's regulatory expertise extending to Dr. Corey Hilmas, our Chief Regulatory Officer, who was involved in drafting the FDA's original 2011 draft NDI guidance, this is a regulatory development particularly close to our team. Tune in as we unpack what the finalized guidance means for the industry.

What if slowing biological aging didn't require expensive treatments or extreme lifestyle changes? In Episode 148 of The Orange Pill Podcast, we explore findings from the landmark DO-HEALTH Bio-Age trial, which followed 777 adults aged 70 and older over three years to investigate whether omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and simple home exercise could influence biological aging. Using advanced epigenetic clocks, researchers found that omega-3 supplementation modestly slowed several measures of biological aging, while combining all three interventions showed additional benefits on one aging measure—equivalent to approximately 2.9–3.8 months over three years. Could everyday interventions help us age more healthfully? Join us as we unpack the science behind biological age, the potential of personalized nutrition, and what these findings could mean for the future of healthy longevity.

Creatine is best known for building muscle and boosting athletic performance, but could its benefits extend beyond the gym? In this episode of The Orange Pill Podcast, we explore a 2025 study published in Nutrients examining creatine's effects on sleep, cognitive function, physical performance, and muscle recovery. After just seven days of supplementation, participants reported better sleep quality, demonstrated improved attention, and achieved greater high-intensity exercise performance. But with some surprising findings and unanswered questions, is creatine's potential bigger than we thought? Join us as we unpack the science behind this familiar supplement and its emerging role in brain and body performance.

What if your muscles could regain strength before the soreness disappears? Emerging research suggests that plant-derived polyphenols may influence exercise recovery in ways that go beyond simply reducing discomfort. Recent studies investigating Sorghum bicolor and specialized fruit polyphenol extracts have reported promising findings involving muscle strength recovery, exercise-related biomarkers and cellular signaling pathways associated with muscle growth. In Episode 146 of the Orange Pill Podcast, we explore the science behind plant-powered recovery, from a clinical trial showing faster strength recovery without significant improvements in soreness to laboratory research revealing how sorghum polyphenols interact with muscle growth-related signaling pathways. Could the future of sports nutrition involve more targeted support for the body's recovery processes?

When it comes to supplements, we often assume that a higher dose means a bigger effect. A 2025 randomized, double-blind crossover trial of Rhodiola rosea challenges that assumption. After just seven days, 200 mg/day outperformed a 1,500 mg/day dose across several resistance-training outcomes, including repetition volume and upper-body strength, while neither dose meaningfully improved 30-second cycling sprint performance.  In Episode 145 of the Orange Pill Podcast, we unpack the surprising dose-response relationship, why the benefits appeared specific to certain types of performance, and what the findings reveal about one of supplement science's most important lessons: More isn't always better.

Ashwagandha has become synonymous with stress relief, but what happens when you put that claim through a placebo-controlled clinical trial? A 12-week randomized, double-blind study of a standardized ashwagandha root extract found an unexpected result: perceived stress improved substantially in both the ashwagandha and placebo groups, with no significant difference between them. But look beyond stress scores, and a much more interesting picture emerges.  In Episode 144 of the Orange Pill Podcast, we unpack what the trial revealed about fatigue, heart rate variability, hormonal markers and safety, and why understanding an adaptogen may require looking beyond how stressed someone feels to what is happening physiologically.

Can the same supplement produce completely opposite biological effects depending on sex? A 2026 preclinical study investigating calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (Ca-αKG) in mouse models of lung adenocarcinoma found a striking divergence: supplementation reduced tumor growth and cell proliferation in female mice, while increasing both in males.  In Episode 143 of the Orange Pill Podcast, we explore how researchers traced this unexpected response to epigenetic reprogramming, why genes including Kdm6a, TBX5 and TP53 may help determine the outcome, and what this research could mean for a future where nutrition becomes increasingly sex-aware and genetically informed.